How to Choose Venues When Planning a Meeting or Event: 5 Mistakes to Avoid

  • By Jessica Elmore
  • 20 May, 2016

If you want to plan a successful event, you must carefully consider a number of factors. One of the most crucial of these is the venue. If there’s a problem with the meeting place, this will impact the atmosphere of the entire event. How to choose venues when planning a meeting or event is one of your most important considerations. Make sure you avoid the following five mistakes.

  • Choosing the wrong location. If your event is only for people in a certain city or region this is not usually an issue. For events where people are coming from a long distance, however, it’s important to choose a location that’s convenient for everyone. You should consider factors such as the weather, proximity to major airports and driving distance. If people are coming from many different directions, you should seek a location that’s as centrally located as possible.
  • Choosing a venue that’s not large enough. Nothing is worse than finding out that you don’t have enough space to comfortably accommodate everyone who attends your event. It’s always better to have too much space than insufficient space.
  • Neglecting to get a written estimate. Before booking a venue, make sure you understand what is and isn’t included in the cost. For example, are items such as chairs, audio equipment and catering included?
  • Booking a venue that you haven’t visited in person. It’s not enough to rely on photographs of the venue published on the company’s website or in a brochure or magazine. If you’re not familiar with the venue, make sure you visit it before making a choice.
  • Not having quality catering. Some venues supply their own catering. In this case, you should always sample the food before booking. If you’ll be booking a separate caterer, make sure you choose someone who provides quality food and who’s reliable. Good food and drink improves everyone’s mood and creates a better overall impression of the event.
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